Firewalls

[Clo]

I posted this in the Security section thinking that's
where it should be...but they don't answer.
My built-in firewall is enabled but I'm being told that
it is not enough and that I should install another one
which covers more things. I installed Kerio Personal
Firewall which, I'm told, works well with the Windows XP
built-in one. They're both on presently...no problem.
But...is is really OK to have two firewalls? I've had XP
for about 3 months now and it is working so perfectly
well, I would'nt want to disturb anything. Thanks Clo

 

[John Liebson]

I posted this in the Security section thinking that's
where it should be...but they don't answer.
My built-in firewall is enabled but I'm being told that
it is not enough and that I should install another one
which covers more things. I installed Kerio Personal
Firewall which, I'm told, works well with the Windows XP
built-in one. They're both on presently...no problem.
But...is is really OK to have two firewalls? I've had XP
for about 3 months now and it is working so perfectly
well, I would'nt want to disturb anything. Thanks Clo

I'm not about to claim that I'm an expert on firewalls, unlike all the
'experts' about worms, etc., that have appeared suddenly.

That disclaimer made, I will state that I've seen a fair amount of
traffic on various permutations of the Windows XP newsgroups that mostly
indicate that the use of more than one firewall is a bad idea. As I
interpret what is being said, the two programs may `fight' with each
other, which is not likely to be a good thing.

Again with my disclaimer, I understand that the XP built-in firewall
only works on in-bound things, so that it is possible for your computer,
if it has, say, a virus (something not stopped by firewalls, despite
some of the `experts'), then your computer could propagate that virus,
whereas a "real" firewall is more likely to prevent that.

And, finally, please FIRST have already read my disclaimer _supra_.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

WinXP's built-in firewall is fine at stopping incoming attacks, and
hiding your ports from probes. It doesn't give you any alarms to tell
you that it is working, though. What WinXP also does not do, is
protect you from any Trojans or spyware that you might download and
install inadvertently. It doesn't monitor out-going traffic at all,
much less block (or at least ask you about) the bad or the
questionable out-going packets.

ZoneAlarm or Sygate are much better, and there are a free versions
available. Personally, I've been very happy with Symantec's Norton
Internet Security 2002 (NIS 2003 is now available), which includes
Norton AntiVirus, Norton Personal Firewall, parental controls, privacy
controls, and ad blocking. (Just the elimination of most pop-up ads
on the Internet made the price worth-while to me.)

You can compare several firewall solutions, some of them free,
here:

The DSL Zone Your Broadband Solution Source
http://thedslzone.com/Software.html


Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH

 

[Clo]

-----Original Message-----
Greetings --

WinXP's built-in firewall is fine at stopping incoming attacks, and
hiding your ports from probes. It doesn't give you any alarms to tell
you that it is working, though. What WinXP also does not do, is
protect you from any Trojans or spyware that you might download and
install inadvertently. It doesn't monitor out-going traffic at all,
much less block (or at least ask you about) the bad or the
questionable out-going packets.

ZoneAlarm or Sygate are much better, and there are a free versions
available. Personally, I've been very happy with Symantec's Norton
Internet Security 2002 (NIS 2003 is now available), which includes
Norton AntiVirus, Norton Personal Firewall, parental controls, privacy
controls, and ad blocking. (Just the elimination of most pop-up ads
on the Internet made the price worth-while to me.)

You can compare several firewall solutions, some of them free,
here:

The DSL Zone Your Broadband Solution Source
http://thedslzone.com/Software.html


Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH





.
Thank You Bruce, I will follow your instructions.